The Spectator Cigar Smoker of the Year Award Dinner 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 8:42 It's the morning after the night before.
I woke up in a budget hotel overlooking a flyover, a busy roundabout and a 24-hour McDonald's.
The hotel is modern, clean and soulless but, more important, it's a short walk from Boisdale of Canary Wharf where the inaugural Spectator Cigar Smoker of the Year Award Dinner took place last night.
The event was the brainchild of Boisdale MD Ranald Macdonald, who is a member of Forest's Supporters' Council alongside David Hockney, Joe Jackson and Oscar-winning screenwriter Ronald Harwood.
Thanks to Ranald we have a close relationship with Boisdale which has hosted a number of Forest events including, most recently, The Freedom Dinner in July.
Ranald was keen to get Forest on board so I agreed to present an award for Best Cigar Terrace.
A few weeks ago I feared the worse. Tickets were priced at £250 a head (£199 for members of the Boisdale Jazz and Cigar Club) and I questioned who would pay that much for a drinks reception and a three-course dinner.
Well, with the enthusiastic support of the Spectator, there was a full house - 240 guests squeezed into every corner of the restaurant.
They included Nancy Dell'olio, David Soul and Simon Le Bon. Not quite the Hollywood heavyweights Ranald originally envisaged but messages of support from Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger - which were read out on stage - suggest his dream could be realised next year.
Spectator supremo Andrew Neil was MC and there was a Forest connection there too because Andrew was the guest speaker at our Revolt In Style dinner at The Savoy in 2007, shortly before the smoking ban was introduced.
On that occasion he warned us that he couldn't make a political speech because of his BBC contract. He then launched into one of the best libertarian speeches I have ever heard. Respect!
Ironically, word reached me that The Spectator was wary of Forest's involvement in the Cigar Smoker of the Year Dinner because they didn't want it to be a political event!
Anyway, you're no doubt wondering who won Cigar Smoker of the Year 2013. I can reveal it was Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon who gave a short, inaudible speech that suggested he was as surprised as anyone.
Best Cigar Terrace went to ... I'm damned if I can remember.
Oh yes, it was awarded jointly to The Wellesley, a luxury boutique hotel in Knightsbridge, and the Garden Room at the Lanesborough Hotel, also in Knightsbridge.
Forest, I should add, had nothing to do with the awards. I've never been to The Wellesley and the only time I went to the Lanesborough it cost me a fortune in drinks.
Anyway, congratulations to Ranald for organising such a successful event. Next year, with the inclusion of a few more household names, it might get more publicity.
Update: I woke up feeling a bit ropey, if I'm honest, but my phone rang, duty called, and at 8:05 I found myself on BBC Radio Lincolnshire arguing with Alistair Martin, press and campaigns manager for the British Lung Foundation.
Not the best start to the day. Now, please leave me alone ...
PS. To mark last night's event Brian Monteith wrote this article for The Free Society - Smoking a cigar is a political statement.
Perhaps the Spectator would publish it?
Reader Comments (2)
Sounds like it was a great night - wish I had been there. I didn't realise it was cheaper for Boisdale members, as I am a temporary member - never mind, maybe next time? Are you going to be putting up any photos of the event Simon?
I just read Brian Monteith's article by the way, and it is excellent - exactly how I (as a cigar smoker) feel about buying, or not buying my cigars in this country, and the way we have been victimised - etc. I could go on all day, as I am sure everyone else who believes in personal freedom could, but hey-ho this is now life in modern day Britain, not that I accept it, or ever will.
Great write up of last night's Cigar Smoker of the Year awards dinner. Couldn't make it myself but sounds like everyone had great fun. Hopefully this will become a yearly event and will expand to add more categories including retailers and writers (blogs etc.) from Europe and around the world.